The Natural Step
was recently short-listed for the prestigious Rio Tinto Alcan Sustainability
Prize. The US $1 million prize recognizes NGOs for their demonstration of a
comprehensive approach to addressing, achieving and further advancing the goals
of economic, environmental and social sustainability. Kelly
Baxter, executive director of TNS Canada and Vice-Chair of TNS
International, said she was delighted to represent TNS at the award
celebrations.

“I was so proud to have the opportunity to represent The Natural Step because this recognition is for all
of us,” Kelly said. “It is for the combined total of all the initiatives,
outcomes and changes we have caused to happen in our various corners of the
world in various different ways, united by a common language and framework.”

The winner of this year’s award is the Utthan Centre for Sustainable
Development and Poverty Alleviation. The ten NGOs
that were short-listed for the award were repeatedly described as
being "the best of the best in implementing sustainable development,”
according to Rio Tinto Alcan’s CEO, Dick Evans, and Adrian Hodges, Program
Manager for the International Business Leaders Forum, which manages the prize.

“It was a huge honour to meet the other finalists who mostly
represent organizations working in developing countries addressing fundamental
human needs issues and natural resource management,” Kelly said.